21st May 2006
FaB Club "Get a floor spot" session:
It's cold and pouring down with rain outside, you'd think we're back in winter but despite of this, the Leopards are rearing to go... " be afraid, be very afraid..." is their motto for today... Well... I am: "No Regrets", one of the most well-known songs from Edith Piaf has turned into a shopping list for a bakery... "no baguettes!" oh dear! As always accompanied by Sue's unmistakable percussion playing; did she get her new instrument from Ann Summers?
Their next song is based on a true story and has a moral... in true Tone Deaf Leopard philosophy: " If a Rochester lady asks you to bed her, be prepared" or something like that... Well it was a song about not having a "jacket" when you need to cover yourself up!
Tone Deaf Leopards...
Up next was our witty Maureen with another of her cracking joke stories... What happens when a woman on a night out pretends to be a cuckoo when she's late home? And the things in Grandad's attic get a little boy to swear?... Good stuff written by Mal Brown.
Sue complained her wig stopped her from seeing properly but she could see enough to spot the next performer: our friend Len who is now practising the singing AND the playing at home and has been bringing us great songs these past weeks...
Today was no exception...Although he announced to be " as miserable as the weather", he sang and played beautifully "Hang on to a dream" by Tim Harding and a Neil Young song " the needle and the damage". Where were Clive and Jean who had requested it? Go to the bottom of the page to find out!...
Gaye and Dave from kent broke the air with some jazz chords and some excellent singing. They were the perfect folk act as they also got the audience joining in! " Smile Sam smile, it doesn't cost a cent, smile Sam smile, it doesn't pay the rent but smile..."
Mike Chapman, virtuoso jazz guitarist had paid us 2 visits earlier in the season. It was nice to see him back! He treated us to two jazz pieces: "Paris Fashion" and "Wait for it!" and made a kind and welcome donation to our raffle: "Speechless", Mike's solo guitar album. Thank you Mike!
Dennis Holmes recently suffered from FaB Club withdrawal symptoms, which this session has hopefully cured! He stands as one of the best folk song-writers around in Essex at the moment and a true witness of the changes happening to our area... " Whatever happened to that old seaside town? " he asked in his first song... attention to details and heart-felt reflections to make you think about it... Can a factory be the new setting for a love song? According to Dennis it is as romantic as a sandy beach... eating sandwiches on the roof top of the factory...
During the break, Mike and Dave entertained us with some improvised jazz music... What a duo! Full of spontaneity yet truly professional!
I had to open the second half... Am I Mademoiselle Noisette, Claudette or even The Boss? I'm not even sure myself... I managed not to get my chords wrong in my first number, a French song from my favourite singer song-writer Jean- Jacques Goldman followed by an introspect composition written whilst recovering from pneumonia... Despite Trevor's attempts at taking pictures of my performance ( he doesn't know you have to put the flash on), I stand as the invisible performer of the session!
Sue HAD to comment on Bernie's huge organ as he came up to set up his instrument... We all wondered whom he might have been inspired by: see the monkey with the bongos? He cheered us up big time and I have requested that Bernie brings his huge organ to my birthday party on the 4th June! If you're lucky ladies, Maureen might also share with you her favourite view point in the purple room!...
Mikanora followed... whistle, mandoline and concertina... A traditional song from Derbyshire, a Kipling's poem...
We are all looking forward to Thursday night (25th) when they'll be supported Pete Morton alongside Adrian May...
We had time for one more song each and finished on a Gaillard special... Gaye and Dave served us a cocktail of their best numbers amongst which Cry me a river, the Siren ( Ron Trueman-Border)
Claudine Le Moal
23-05-06
answer: in Spain...